Uplands Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Lowestoft for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 1993, with 35 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Suffolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Suffolk from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
NR33 8LJWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 10 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive at this pre-school. Staff provide outstanding, high-quality learning experiences for all children that are expertly planned and driven by staff's skilful, reflective approach. They adapt the environment to ensure that all children benefit from the best possible learning opportunities. Teaching is expertly tailored to individual needs, enabling all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to make exceptional progress. Staff show strong commitment to supporting children's individual learning through responding to their interests and ongoing evaluation of practice.
Staff have a clear vision for excellence and a commitment to the holistic development of all children. They have extremely high expectations for children's social skills, independence and creativity and encourage children to be 'their own pilots' in their learning. The curriculum is clearly focused and extremely well structured. Staff provide a wealth of opportunities for children to explore their own learning through carefully planned resources. Staff share a vision for children's learning and development, resulting in a stimulating, exemplary environment, where all children are highly engaged and motivated to achieve their very best, both indoors and outdoors. As a result, children receive a consistently high standard of teaching from the moment they begin their day.
- 10 July 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 7 November 2019Outstanding
- 1 December 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Uplands Pre-School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.